SERIE A MATCH REPORT

For all the internationalisation of Roma, it was homegrown Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Florenzi who earned a 2-0 win in Livorno.

It has been a very tense summer for the Giallorossi, as fans were still protesting the Coppa Italia Final defeat to Lazio in May. Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Marquinhos were sold with Erik Lamela thought to be on the verge of joining Tottenham, while new Coach Rudi Garcia made his Serie A debut. Kevin Strootman and MattiaDestro were out injured, but Gervinho and Lamela were surprisingly benched. Livorno won the promotion play-offs and kept hold of star striker Paulinho, while Alfred Duncan, IbrahimaMbaye and Francesco Bardi are on loan from Inter.

Alessandro Florenzi’s angled drive was blocked within 90 seconds and Douglas Maicon stung Bardi’s gloves after squirming between two defenders. Francesco Totti’s fierce volley was not far wide of the upright.

Totti was again inspired, as his strike from distance clipped the top of the crossbar. Giuseppe Gemiti went off injured for Mbaye’sAmaranto debut.

Florenzi ran on to a long Leandro Castan ball and forced fellow Italy Under-21 international Bardi into a fine save.

Gervinho was given his Serie A debut and Florenzi was unlucky to see his angled drive crack against the base of the upright.

Roma eventually broke through thanks to one of their most representative players. Totti set up Daniele De Rossi for an absolute screamer from 25 metres that left Bardi with absolutely no chance. It was a rocket and his first goal in over a year, as he failed to find the net at all for Roma last season.

Moments later Florenzi added a second, as he ran on to a long Castan pass and trapped it well for a fierce angled drive across the face of goal. Florenzi was unlucky, as he crashed into the advertising boards during his celebrations and hurt his shoulder.

Maicon almost scored a stunner, flicking up the ball for a shot on the volley that was dipping viciously, but Bardifingertipped it out from under the bar.